Skip to main content
GRAMMYs Breaking News
Breaking News
  • MusiCares Launches Help for the Holidays Campaign Apply HERE
  • Recording Academy
  • GRAMMYs
  • Membership
  • Advocacy
  • MusiCares
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Latin GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
  • Advocacy
  • Membership
  • GRAMMYs
  • Governance
  • Jobs
  • Press Room
  • Events
  • Login
  • MusiCares
  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Latin GRAMMYs
  • More
    • MusiCares
    • GRAMMY Museum
    • Latin GRAMMYs

The GRAMMYs

  • Awards
  • News
  • Videos
  • Music Genres
  • Recording Academy
  • More
    • Awards
    • News
    • Videos
    • Music Genres
    • Recording Academy

Latin GRAMMYs

MusiCares

  • About
  • Get Help
  • Give
  • News
  • Videos
  • Events
  • Person of the Year
  • More
    • About
    • Get Help
    • Give
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events
    • Person of the Year

Advocacy

  • About
  • News
  • Issues & Policy
  • Act
  • Recording Academy
  • More
    • About
    • News
    • Issues & Policy
    • Act
    • Recording Academy

Membership

  • Join
  • Events
  • PRODUCERS & ENGINEERS WING
  • GRAMMY U
  • GOVERNANCE
  • More
    • Join
    • Events
    • PRODUCERS & ENGINEERS WING
    • GRAMMY U
    • GOVERNANCE
Log In Join
  • SUBSCRIBE

  • Search
See All Results
Modal Open
Subscribe Now

Subscribe to Newsletters

Be the first to find out about GRAMMY nominees, winners, important news, and events. Privacy Policy
GRAMMY Museum
Membership

Join us on Social

  • Recording Academy
    • The Recording Academy: Facebook
    • The Recording Academy: Twitter
    • The Recording Academy: Instagram
    • The Recording Academy: YouTube
  • GRAMMYs
    • GRAMMYs: Facebook
    • GRAMMYs: Twitter
    • GRAMMYs: Instagram
    • GRAMMYs: YouTube
  • Latin GRAMMYs
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Facebook
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Twitter
    • Latin GRAMMYs: Instagram
    • Latin GRAMMYs: YouTube
  • GRAMMY Museum
    • GRAMMY Museum: Facebook
    • GRAMMY Museum: Twitter
    • GRAMMY Museum: Instagram
    • GRAMMY Museum: YouTube
  • MusiCares
    • MusiCares: Facebook
    • MusiCares: Twitter
    • MusiCares: Instagram
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy: Facebook
    • Advocacy: Twitter
  • Membership
    • Membership: Facebook
    • Membership: Twitter
    • Membership: Instagram
    • Membership: Youtube
Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige

Photo: Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images

News
Mary J. Blige On Covering Elton John's "Sorry …" mary-j-blige-singing-elton-johns-sorry-%E2%80%A6-catharsis

Mary J. Blige: Singing Elton John's "Sorry …" Is A Catharsis

Facebook Twitter Email
Mary J. Blige's memorable rendition of Elton John's "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" brings powerful feelings of release
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Apr 6, 2018 - 4:50 pm

GRAMMY winner Mary J. Blige has shaped contemporary R&B on the highest level. On April 6 the Elton John tribute album Revamp was released, and her reshaping of his classic "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" gives the song a soulful treatment that feels like it was waiting to be uncovered.

"I specifically chose to sing 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word' because of how beautiful and sad the song is and it was also so cathartic for me to sing," Blige explained to Billboard.

Blige says her participation in the tribute album "is special to me not only because [Elton] is a good friend of mine but also because of my love for his songwriting and amazing songs."

"Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" was the breakout hit on John's 1976 LP, Blue Moves, the last album in his initial series of collaborations with lyricist Bernie Taupin before they took a creative hiatus. Beyond being a break-up song, "Sorry …" seems to freeze a moment in time, hold an emotion and reinforce how letting it go through expression allows a person to move forward.

Summing up the long-running partnership between John and Taupin, Blige commented, "Elton and Bernie's songs, so inspiring and powerful, will continue to stand the test of time."

Be sure to tune in to "Elton John: I'm Still Standing — A GRAMMY Salute" on April 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. The two-hour concert special will feature performances by some of music's biggest names, including Ed Sheeran, Alessia Cara, Miley Cyrus, Kesha, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Sam Smith, SZA, and many more.

Elton John GRAMMY Special
Prev
Next
Elton John, 2018
Elton John
Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images

7 Elton John Songs From The Screen & Stage

Elton John
Elton John
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

5 Charities Elton John Supports

GRAMMYs

All-Stars Pay Tribute To Elton John

GRAMMYs

Kesha On Growing Up Listening To Elton John

GRAMMYs

How Did Elton John Help Ed Sheeran?

GRAMMYs

Maren Morris: Elton John's Soulfulness Has Power

GRAMMYs

Shawn Mendes On Covering Elton John With SZA

GRAMMYs

Elton John Talks GRAMMY Special, Tribute Albums

GRAMMYs

Elton John Picks His Own Favorite Albums

GRAMMYs

Miranda Lambert's Crazy Connection To Elton John

GRAMMYs

Why Alessia Cara Sang The Blues For Elton John

GRAMMYs

The Lyrical Longevity Of Elton John, "Border Song"

GRAMMYs

Little Big Town On Paying Tribute to Elton John

GRAMMYs

Neil Patrick Harris: What's His Elton John Secret?

GRAMMYs

Elton John Talks Bernie Taupin, Fatherhood & More

Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Photo: Matthias Nareyek/Getty Images

Who's On The Elton John Cover Albums?

GRAMMYs

Elton John To Be Honored At GRAMMY Salute Concert

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

GRAMMYs

Jillian Jacqueline

Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images

News
ASCAP Female Songwriting Camp Felt "Essential" learn-why-she-music-ascaps-female-songwriting-camp-felt-essential

Learn Why "She Is The Music" & ASCAP's Female Songwriting Camp Felt "Essential"

Facebook Twitter Email
Participants in the creative and innovative incubator came away with fresh confidence.
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Oct 26, 2018 - 5:31 pm

Songwriting camps have certainly proven their worth recently and from Oct. 17–19, ASCAP and joined forces with "She Is The Music" a new mentoring initiative founded Alicia Keys, to fulfill the promise Keys made last summer toward promoting women-led creativity.

https://twitter.com/aliciakeys/status/1007383286417641472

Just finished this sick women’s writing camp!! I love supporting these amazing female writers, producers, engineers and creative minds! And there are so many more incredible ones!! Isn’t it time for our industry to reflect that? #sheisthemusic

Tag the incredible women you know!! pic.twitter.com/HtKjzmwXhe

— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) June 14, 2018

The camp partnered with powerhouses such as engineer Ann Mincieli, and with Mary J. Blige who headlined and participated in the all-female songwriting camp. United in the name of advancement, the program has potential to lead a cultural shift more respectful and nurturing toward women's musical and creative gifts, as well as career success.

"I've joined forces with a group of really powerful female executives, songwriters, artists, engineers, producers and publishers to help reshape the industry that we all love by creating real opportunities and a pipeline of talent for other women," Keys said speech accepting her Icon Award from the National Music Publishers Association last June. "We're calling our initiative 'She Is the Music.'" By mid-month, creative get-togethers to make progress had commenced and the ASCAP songwriting camp is an extension of that summer spirit.

"For the most part, I tend to gravitate towards female writers because there's no substitute for people completely understanding your experience and your perspective," said country singer-songwriter Jillian Jacqueline. "If we all get together in a room and break all the walls and the myths and concepts down to talk about what it is to be where we are and describe what we're going through, bonds happen. Connection happens. Those are the things people can't take away from you — the human connection. That's why this is so essential."

https://twitter.com/ASCAP/status/1052322043054698496

Tonight we kick off our #ASCAP #SheIsTheMusic songwriting camp featuring some incredibly talented female writers. Check out our Instagram stories for behind the scenes content all week long >> https://t.co/RAeJ5yuJhP pic.twitter.com/WBCAi2Zoek

— ASCAP (@ASCAP) October 16, 2018

"Songwriting is an art. You have to be transparent in order to get people to look at your art," said Blige, reinforcing the spirit of openness that made the camp such an exciting creative environment. "It's very hard for women to come together because it's such a male-dominated world, male-dominated industry. It makes it hard on us so we're hard on each other … When you see us actually have the confidence and the courage to come together to do something great like this, it's a blessing."

https://twitter.com/ASCAP/status/1052607075396792321

#ASCAP + #SheIsTheMusic songwriting camp family ❣️ pic.twitter.com/qiao5ayPCG

— ASCAP (@ASCAP) October 17, 2018

"There is a culture and there is a system in place that says if you're a woman, you're either a girlfriend, a wife… you're an artist, or you're here for my pleasure," added songwriter Priscilla Renea. "I think that's the most encouraging thing about this, women are going to walk away feeling confident."

Organizers were delighted with the sense of accomplishment that emerged from this October camp and look forward to holding more and inspiring others to follow their lead. Thanks to the vision of "She Is The Music," it's likely just a matter of time before songs everybody sings emerge thanks to this women-in-leadership model.

Sony/ATV Songwriting Camps Are Giving Songwriters More Opportunities To Showcase Talent

Elton John photographed at "Elton John: I'm Still Standing — A GRAMMY Tribute"

Elton John

Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Images

News
Elton John: Tributes Are A "Huge Compliment" elton-john-grammy-special-tribute-albums-huge-compliment

Elton John: GRAMMY Special, Tribute Albums A "Huge Compliment"

Facebook Twitter Email
The man of the hour reflects on a younger generation of artists paying tribute to his catalog and the "Elton John: I'm Still Standing — A GRAMMY Tribute" special
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Apr 10, 2018 - 9:54 am

Though he is set to embark on a three-year farewell tour, it's a good gamble that Elton John's rich catalog of classic songs will still be standing for many years beyond.

Elton John Talks GRAMMY Special, Tribute Albums

As a testament to John's legacy, "Elton John: I'm Still Standing — A GRAMMY Tribute" will air on Tuesday, April 10 on CBS at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The two-hour concert special will feature a variety of superstars — including Ed Sheeran, Alessia Cara, Maren Morris, and Kesha — covering a treasure trove of favorites from the "Rocket Man" singer/songwriter's catalog.

Providing a nostalgic complementary bookend of sorts, John's songs recently received a fresh facelift in the form of a pair of tribute albums.

Revamp: The Songs Of Elton John And Bernie Taupin features 13 fresh spins on John's pop classics, including Lady Gaga ("Your Song"), Pink and Logic ("Bennie And The Jets"), Queens Of The Stone Age ("Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"), Q-Tip featuring Demi Lovato ("Don't Go Breaking My Heart"), and Mary J. Blige ("Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word").

Meanwhile, Restoration: The Songs Of Elton John And Bernie Taupin culls 13 selections infused with some country twang, including the likes of Miranda Lambert ("My Father's Gun"), Willie Nelson ("Border Song"), Kacey Musgraves ("Roy Rogers"), Chris Stapleton ("I Want Love"), and Miley Cyrus ("The B**** Is Back").

Miranda Lambert's Crazy Connection To Elton John

Both collections were released April 6, and as it turns out some of the tribute album artists will perform their selection on the GRAMMY special. This synergy of gratitude and love has John over the moon.

"When anyone sings your song, it's a huge compliment," said John, also speaking on behalf of his longtime songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin. "For all these artists to have come together and voluntarily agreed to do this [special and] record, without much cajoling I have to say, is a huge tribute to us. And it gives me a warm feeling.

"Here I am, 71 years old, and these great, young artists are singing our songs. … I'm always thinking that a good song would crossover to anybody, anywhere."

"Elton John: I'm Still Standing — A GRAMMY Tribute" will feature performances by some of music's biggest names, including Lady Gaga, Lambert, John Legend, Little Big Town, Chris Martin, Morris, Sam Smith, SZA, and more.

Tune in April 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT for this two-hour concert special, only on CBS.

Elton John GRAMMY Special
Prev
Next
Elton John, 2018
Elton John
Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images

7 Elton John Songs From The Screen & Stage

Elton John
Elton John
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

5 Charities Elton John Supports

GRAMMYs

All-Stars Pay Tribute To Elton John

GRAMMYs

Kesha On Growing Up Listening To Elton John

GRAMMYs

How Did Elton John Help Ed Sheeran?

GRAMMYs

Maren Morris: Elton John's Soulfulness Has Power

GRAMMYs

Shawn Mendes On Covering Elton John With SZA

GRAMMYs

Elton John Talks GRAMMY Special, Tribute Albums

GRAMMYs

Elton John Picks His Own Favorite Albums

GRAMMYs

Miranda Lambert's Crazy Connection To Elton John

GRAMMYs

Why Alessia Cara Sang The Blues For Elton John

GRAMMYs

The Lyrical Longevity Of Elton John, "Border Song"

GRAMMYs

Little Big Town On Paying Tribute to Elton John

GRAMMYs

Neil Patrick Harris: What's His Elton John Secret?

GRAMMYs

Elton John Talks Bernie Taupin, Fatherhood & More

Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Photo: Matthias Nareyek/Getty Images

Who's On The Elton John Cover Albums?

GRAMMYs

Elton John To Be Honored At GRAMMY Salute Concert

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Maren Morris

Maren Morris

Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

News
Maren Morris: Elton John's Decades Of Soulfulness maren-morris-elton-john-crossing-genres-soulful-chameleon

Maren Morris On Elton John Crossing Genres As A Soulful Chameleon

Facebook Twitter Email
The country artist praises John's soulful essence and his power to "dip into any genre easily" and sustain his music's impact across decades
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Apr 4, 2018 - 2:49 pm

Maren Morris, winner of Best Country Solo Performance at the 59th GRAMMY Awards for "My Church," sees Elton John from her perspective as a country artist with added gratitude for his personal support.

Maren Morris: Elton John's Soulfulness Has Power

The GRAMMY Camp alum chose "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters," from John's 1972 Honky Château album, to perform on the April 10 TV concert special "Elton John: I'm Still Standing — A GRAMMY Tribute."

This particular song perfectly illustrates how the legend impacted her own songwriting and career in music. "I thank the Lord for the people I have found" was Bernie Taupin's lyric at the center of the song's embrace of solitude and reflection, while surrounded by the urban hustle of New York. Morris' enthusiasm reflects a similar gratitude.

"Elton was one of the really early supporters of my career and my music," Morris said. "I was honored to be asked and just celebrate him because he's so influential on so many different genres of artists."

The first lines of "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters" are a tip of the hat to soul singer Ben E. King's hit "Spanish Harlem," comparing a young lady to a beautiful rose. But Taupin's lyric takes a darker view of struggling to grow in the urban setting, asserting that "rose trees never grow in New York City." Although the song isn't one of John's many chart hits, it emerged through the years as a favorite, illustrating John and Taupin's ability to touch on deeper themes while penning a rousing ballad.

https://twitter.com/RecordingAcad/status/979178842123272203

1⃣. Wrote songs for @TheTimMcGraw and @kelly_clarkson
2⃣. Won a GRAMMY at the 59th #GRAMMYs in 2017
3⃣. First country act to top #Billboard's Dance/Mix Show

See how GRAMMY winner @MarenMorris is carrying the torch forward for female #country artists: https://t.co/SkKp1VjaC8 pic.twitter.com/gO0QiFH0sI

— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) March 29, 2018

"He's a chameleon," said Morris. "He can really dip into any genre, easily, because he has that soul there. I think he's taught me if I keep that intact, you can do whatever you want over the decades with your music."

"Elton John: I'm Still Standing — A GRAMMY Salute" will feature performances by some of music's biggest names, including Alessia Cara, Miley Cyrus, Kesha, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Little Big Town, Chris Martin, Shawn Mendes, Maren Morris, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and SZA.

Tune in April 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT for this two-hour concert special, only on CBS.

Elton John GRAMMY Special
Prev
Next
Elton John, 2018
Elton John
Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images

7 Elton John Songs From The Screen & Stage

Elton John
Elton John
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

5 Charities Elton John Supports

GRAMMYs

All-Stars Pay Tribute To Elton John

GRAMMYs

Kesha On Growing Up Listening To Elton John

GRAMMYs

How Did Elton John Help Ed Sheeran?

GRAMMYs

Maren Morris: Elton John's Soulfulness Has Power

GRAMMYs

Shawn Mendes On Covering Elton John With SZA

GRAMMYs

Elton John Talks GRAMMY Special, Tribute Albums

GRAMMYs

Elton John Picks His Own Favorite Albums

GRAMMYs

Miranda Lambert's Crazy Connection To Elton John

GRAMMYs

Why Alessia Cara Sang The Blues For Elton John

GRAMMYs

The Lyrical Longevity Of Elton John, "Border Song"

GRAMMYs

Little Big Town On Paying Tribute to Elton John

GRAMMYs

Neil Patrick Harris: What's His Elton John Secret?

GRAMMYs

Elton John Talks Bernie Taupin, Fatherhood & More

Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Photo: Matthias Nareyek/Getty Images

Who's On The Elton John Cover Albums?

GRAMMYs

Elton John To Be Honored At GRAMMY Salute Concert

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Andra Day

Andra Day

Photo: Dan MacMedan/WireImage

News
Who Will Perform At This Year's Oscars? oscar-performers-mary-j-blige-andra-day-keala-settle-and-more

Oscar Performers: Mary J. Blige, Andra Day, Keala Settle, And More

Facebook Twitter Email
Oscar performances on March 4 to showcase original singers for all nominated songs, in an exciting parade of excellence featuring talent rich in GRAMMY wins as well
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Feb 23, 2018 - 6:32 pm

On March 4 at the 90th Academy Awards all five nominated songs will be performed during the presentation ceremony by the original singers. The category is a songwriters' award, and both the performers and the composers nominated have totaled 23 GRAMMY wins to date. Let's take a closer look.

Mudbound's "Mighty River" is more than just a song as the winner of nine GRAMMY Awards, Mary J. Blige, has an independent Oscar nomination for supporting actress in the film. The song's performance on the soundtrack resonates with and against her character, her celebrity, and her style quite effectively. She created the composition with Raphael Saadiq and Taura Stinson.

GRAMMY-nominated Sufjan Stevens received his first Oscar nomination for "Mystery Of Love" from the movie Call Me By Your Name. Bringing back memories of his influence performing under the name Cat Stevens, we look forward to this uniquely emotional and insightful artist performing his song live.

"Remember Me" is the nominee from the movie Coco, which is so magnetically musical in its message that it helped kick off the GRAMMY Music Education Coalition. Songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez are both multiple GRAMMY winners and it will be performed by Gael Garcia Bernal with GRAMMY winners Natalia Lafourcade and Miguel.

Marshall's "Stand Up For Something" unites previous Oscar winner for Selma, Common, with the nine-time nominated Diane Warren, who has yet to win an Oscar to go with her GRAMMY. GRAMMY-nominated songstress Andra Day will perform their song with him, which was also nominated for Best Song Written For Visual Media at the 60th GRAMMY Awards.

Keala Settle's performance of "This Is Me" at a key point in The Greatest Showman helped propel the soundtrack to No. 1 in Jan. Its composers, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, won Best Musical Theater Album at the 60th GRAMMY Awards for the recording Dear Evan Hansen.

Tune in on March 4 to discover which performances you enjoy the most and see who the night's winners will be.

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

Top
Logo
  • Recording Academy
    • About
    • Governance
    • Press Room
    • Jobs
    • Events
  • GRAMMYs
    • Awards
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events
    • Store
    • FAQ
  • Latin GRAMMYs
    • Awards
    • News
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Cultural Foundation
    • Members
    • Press
  • GRAMMY Museum
    • COLLECTION:live
    • Explore
    • Exhibits
    • Education
    • Support
    • Programs
    • Donate
  • MusiCares
    • About
    • Get Help
    • Give
    • News
    • Videos
    • Events
  • Advocacy
    • About
    • News
    • Learn
    • Act
  • Membership
    • Chapters
    • Producers & Engineers Wing
    • GRAMMY U
    • Join
Logo

© 2021 - Recording Academy. All rights reserved.

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Copyright Notice
  • Contact Us

Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.